Mariners notes: King Felix continues record-setting stretch

Felix Hernandez continues to dominate. The Seattle Mariners starter was stellar yet again in a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, lowering his ERA to 1.97 on the season — the best in the American League, and second only to the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (1.82) for tops in all of baseball.

Felix Hernandez has now pitched an MLB-record 15 games with at least seven innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

It extended Hernandez’s MLB-record streak of starts with seven or more innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed to 15 games. His win also tied Gaylord Perry’s 15-game streak of seven or more innings pitched with two or fewer earned runs allowed.

During the 15-game span, Hernandez has an ERA of 1.42 and has allowed just three home runs. However, he won only eight and lost two of those games.

No Seattle pitcher has ever finished a season with an ERA below 2.00. Hernandez already owns the lowest ERA in team history, with a 2.27 mark in his Cy Young-winning season in 2010.

Saunders could return to outfield soon

Outfielder Michael Saunders is expected to begin his rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday, he told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game against Atlanta.

In 2014, Saunders has had an impressive, albeit an injury-riddled, season. Prior to the oblique injury, Saunders was one of the Mariners’ most consistent bats, hitting .306 in 13 games from June 27 to July 10. Before that, he had been on the DL since June 12 with a shoulder injury.

In 65 games this season, Saunders has an average of .276 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. He’s one of three players with at least 150 at-bats who is hitting above .270, alongside Robinson Cano (.329) and Kyle Seager (.274). His return should help a Mariners offense that ranks 27th in all of baseball in runs scored.

Meanwhile, utility player Willie Bloomquist is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 8, but is reportedly not close to being able to run. He is supposed to meet with team doctors on Wednesday.

Bloomquist suffered a right knee contusion while running to first base in a game on July 23. Prior to the injury, he was hitting .278 in 47 games.

Mariners pitchers continue to shine

Hernandez isn’t the only starter to excel this season. In fact, the Mariners’ starting rotation owns the second-best ERA in the A.L. Additionally, Seattle’s top three starters (Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young) have a combined ERA of 2.63 — the best by any starting trio across the MLB.

Mariners starters have allowed two or fewer runs in 49 games this year, ranking first in the majors. The team has a record of 37-12 in those games.

As a team, Mariners pitchers have an ERA of 3.04, which ranks atop all of baseball. That number is on pace to crush the club record for team ERA, which was set in 2001 when the staff notched a combined 3.54.